They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the same vein, plainly-stated, simple facts speak louder than a thousand scholarly articles by top political “analysts.” So, here goes: in the view of the current United States administration, Hamas’ participation in the Palestinian Authority government is legitimate. Building permits for Jews in Judea and Samaria are criminal.

In many ways, Washington’s stance on the current Israel-Palestinian diplomatic dustup illustrates the failure of President Obama’s foreign policy on a host of issues, particularly in the Middle East. Obama won election in 2008 calling for “changes” to America’s domestic and foreign policies, saying he would be prepared to talk to the government of Iran and promising to “re-brand” American foreign policy after the aggressive, “you’re-with-us-or-against-us” approach of George W. Bush.

In that vein, the president’s June, 2009 speech at Cairo University calling for a “re-set” of America’s relations with the Muslim world was hailed as a breakthrough moment: The president spoke passionately about the “dignity and peace” that many people find in their Muslim faith, quoted the “holy Koran” and called for a ”new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect.

However, it quickly became clear that Obama lacked either the understanding or the conviction to redefine America-Muslim relations in a way that would be consistent with democratic principles and supportive of American political interests in the region.

Challenges

The first challenge to Obama’s offer for a new beginning came quickly: Eight days after the president appeared in Cairo on June 5, 2009, mass protests broke out around Iran as young people claimed that Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and the mullahs of the Islamic Revolution had falsified election results. The government response was brutal: Several people were killed, hundreds were imprisoned.

But dissident groups both in- and out of Iran were stunned when Mr Obama, then-Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and other American officials remained silent. Eventually the protests were quashed; several participants were hanged, included a 45-year-old mother of two who held dual nationality between the Netherlands and Iran.

The second challenge to Obama’s offer to re-define American-Muslim relations came a year-and-a-half later, in December, 2010 and continues to this day. For the second time in his presidency, pro-democracy demonstrations broke out in the Middle East, this time around the Arab world. Again, however, the protests caught the US administration by surprise. This time, the protests presented a challenge to US interests: thousands of people calling for the ouster of US-backed dictators, versus the unappetising alternative of a likely radical Islamist takeover were truly democratic elections to be held.

Obama’s own Cairo speech could have given the president guidance on how to react to the protests – “government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy,” the president said in 2009.

Instead, Obama chose to throw his support behind radical governments like Mohammed Morsi in Egypt. Rather than announcing that American aid would be tied to the clear maintenance of liberty for opposition and minority groups, Morsi enjoyed Washington’s full support for the year he was in office. Eventually, it took a military coup, rather than public pressure from Washington, to oust the Moslem Brotherhood.

About the Author:Meir is a news writer for JewishPress.com - and he loves his job.

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Well, we all know what this administration is all about now as it openly supports the islamists in Israel, Afghanistan, Iran, Qutar, et al. Anyone who now supports this administration, including the reprehensible Harry Reid, is an open supporter of the racist islamist murderers

It is extremely difficult for me to believe the premise of this article, but no the contents. President Obama has been a divisive figure since he first entered office, not all of which can be blamed on the Tea Party. They have been hugely silent of late, actually ever since the embarrassment of their failed agenda. No the fault lies squarely on his intentions, unvarying from the first moment in office, and before.

It is elementary the Amateur hasn’t the slightest idea of practical policy or how to deal with ideologies with a sinister core. Well, he can make speeches but not very well-funded. I doubt Mr. Amateur has any qualifications whatsoever, politically speaking. Fund-raiser in Chicago and third grade social interrogator in poor urban quarters don’t make him suitable as POTUS.

none of them are qualified neither is Obama he is not qualified either he is a dictator of America now as it is already he is bowing to muslims and opening his door to them I think is a violation to America and we need to do something about it to put a stop to it before it worsens

Just in from the Newsroom…Israel will freeze construction in Judea, and Samaria soon after the US freezes all construction in the state of Texas, and reaches a final agreement to return Texas to Mexico. Opps it’s not even the same..Judea, and Samaria are part of Israel, Texas belongs to Mexico!

By the time he's gone, it may be too late. I feel bad for the next Pres…….unless of course it's a democrat. In that case, he/she deserves to clean up the mess Obama made. However, I'm sure another democrat will probably make more messes. OMg………there's no end to this crap!!!

Randy – while you hit the nail squarely on it's head you also might have violated the 'ethics' of this web site BUT it doesn't matter, I think, because you not only hit that nail but you are not afraid to speak truth to power ! Actually it is worse than you wrote… because this President is laying the ground-work for armed dissent in the streets of the United States and that is exactly what he wants. Look who raised him please.

We now have an openly pro Hamas,Anti Israel leader. Obama plans to use your tax money to provide aid to the new united Paestinian party. It includes as a full participoant ,HAMSAS,a violent,hate mongering,terrorist organization bent on the destruction of Israel and genocide of the Jewish people. It has fired thousands of rockets at civilian populations and wants to liquidate all Jews between the Jordan river and the Mediteranian sea, It is an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood of which Mr Obama has always been an ardent supporter.Next time you pay your income tax,think of where it goes. He incidentally has worked hard to damage Israel while giving speeches of how he supports Israel. B–l S–t.

I hope the Jews are happy now that they voted for Obama twice, plus donated hundreds of millions of dollars to the Obama and Democratic political campaign. Now the Jews are flocking to the Hillary campaign. When the Democrats put the Jews into the ovens, don't blame me as I told you so.

I utterly cannot believe why the Israeli Government would listen to one word said by any American Government person,they are all liars deceivers and follow the guff spouted by their masters Obama and Kerry.They are determined to stab Israel in the back.

For years, Binyamin Netanyahu’s views on negotiating with terrorists, and on negotiating under fire have been clear: In his defining treatise on the subject Terrorism: How the West Can Win, Netanyahu spelled out clear guidelines for dealing with the scourge of attacks on civilians. Amongst other principles, the then up-and-coming Likud leader said clearly that terrorists must […]